In line with the Government’s vision to establish a robust defence industrial ecosystem with the participation of both public and private sectors, Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a DRDO laboratory located in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, has taken a major step forward by transferring technologies of nine systems to 10 industries.
Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development works worth crores of rupees in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.
At the ongoing World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, the India Pavilion—titled Bharat Mandap—has secured a place among the top five most admired pavilions, according to a review shared by Mr. Yamamoto-san, Deputy Pavilion Director and representative of the Japan Travel Bureau (JTB).
Ranked alongside global heavyweights such as the United States, Italy, France, and Japan, the India Pavilion’s popularity is based on feedback from Expo officials, Japanese citizens, and online engagement on social media platforms.
Cultural Diplomacy at Its Finest-
The Bharat Mandap stands as more than an architectural marvel; it is a living, breathing embodiment of India’s cultural diplomacy. It offers a uniquely immersive experience to international visitors through rich exhibits, interactive cultural sessions, and artistic installations.
A Pavilion Like No Other-
Unlike other international pavilions characterized by long queues and restricted access, the India Pavilion offers a smooth, welcoming, and inclusive experience.
The President has appointed Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as a part-time Member of the 16th Finance Commission (XVIFC). He shall hold office from the date of assuming charge until the submission of the Commission's Report or 31st October, 2025, whichever is earlier.
The appointment of Shri T. Rabi Sankar is consequent to the resignation of one of the full-time Members of the XVIFC, Shri Ajay Narayan Jha, on personal grounds.
The XVIFC was constituted on 31st December, 2023, with Dr. Arvind Panagariya, former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, as its chairman.
The XVIFC is mandated to submit its recommendations by 31st October, 2025, for the award period of five years commencing from 1st April, 2026.
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 6th meeting of the Governing Council (GC) of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF) in New Delhi.
The GC appreciated NIIF’s evolution as a sovereign-linked asset manager and acknowledged the efforts made over the years to build strong partnerships with marquee investors, including, prominent sovereign wealth funds such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Temasek; pension funds such as AustralianSuper, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan,
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB); Multilateral Development Banks such as Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and New Development Bank (NDB): and strategic government counterparts such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
Recognising NIIF’s growing role in mobilising capital into infrastructure and other key sectors of the Indian economy in line with the national priorities, the GC appreciated NIIFs performance and took note of the expansion in its Assets Under Management which has increased to more than ₹30,000 crore while catalysing capital of ₹11,7000 crore.
The GC was presented with an update on NIIF’s overall strategy, progress, the investment status, sector focus, performance and way forward across its four active funds:
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) marked a special occasion celebrating 11 years of Seva, Good Governance & Welfare, commemorating the transformative journey of the Modi Government. The event was chaired by Secretary Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar and attended by senior officials from MoMA and its affiliated bodies.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on announced that the Delhi government has undertaken a project to develop India’s first electronic waste (e-waste) eco park in north Delhi’s Holambi Kalan.
According to a statement by the Delhi government, the facility, spanning 11.4 acres, will be built under a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis for a concession period of 15 years.
It will be designed to process up to 51,000 tonnes of e-waste, including all 106 categories of waste listed under the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022. The park, which is one of four such facilities planned in the country, is expected to generate over ₹350 crore in revenue.
Construction of the park is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The country's biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) paid a dividend of ₹8,076.84 crore to the government for the financial year 2024-25.
The dividend cheque was presented to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by SBI Chairman C.S. Setty in the presence of Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju and Finance Secretary Ajay Seth.
SBI declared a dividend of ₹15.90 per share for the financial year 2024-25, higher than ₹13.70 per equity share distributed for the previous year. SBI had paid a dividend of ₹6,959.29 crore to the government last year.
During 2024-25, the bank earned a record net profit of ₹70,901 crore, as against ₹61,077 crore in the preceding year, registering a 16 increase.
Nicholas Pooran, West Indies’ Twenty20 record-holder for runs and appearances, retired from international cricket (June 10, 2025).
Pooran, 29, announced on Instagram.
Nicholas Pooran was suspended briefly in late 2019 after admitting to ball-tampering against Afghanistan, and
and overcame that to be named West Indies T20 vice-captain about 18 months later for a tour by Australia. But he became captain when Kieron Pollard couldn’t play, and led the team to a 4-1 series win.
Nicholas Pooran has not represented his country in the Tests, but has played 61 ODIs scoring 1,983 runs at an average of 39.66 with three centuries at a strike rate of 99.15.
He also has represented in 106 T20 internationals scoring 2275 runs at an average of 26.14 with 98 being his highest score. His strike rate in T20Is is 136.39. He has also taken 6 wickets in ODIs.
Representing Lucknow Super Giants in the just concluded IPL, Nicholas Pooran has hit the most number of sixes in the tournamnet viz. 40.
Travel company Thomas Cook announced a strategic partnership with Muthoot Forex — the foreign exchange division of the Muthoot Group — to expand the reach of its Borderless Travel and Study Buddy cards.
Through this collaboration, both prepaid forex cards will now be available across Muthoot’s extensive network of over 7,000 branches,
including 43 full-fledged forex branches across India’s metros, mini-metros, and tier II to tier IV source markets, the travel company said in a release.
Legendary Indian wicketkeeper-batter and former captain MS Dhoni has been inducted into the prestigious ICC Hall of Fame, marking another glorious chapter in his storied cricket career. The International Cricket Council announced that Dhoni was among seven cricketers honoured this year, which included greats like Matthew Hayden (Australia) and Hashim Amla (South Africa).
With 17,266 international runs, 829 dismissals and 538 matches across formats for India, Dhoni’s numbers reflect not just excellence but extraordinary consistency, fitness and longevity.
Dhoni, who led India to three major ICC titles – the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy – was celebrated by the ICC for his,
“calm under pressure and unmatched tactical nous,” as well as his trailblazing influence in the shorter formats of the game. Across formats, Dhoni accumulated 17,266 runs, effected 829 dismissals behind the stumps, and played 538 international matches – a testament to his consistency, fitness, and longevity.
Dhoni’s ODI legacy is studded with records, including the most stumpings in the format (123), the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper (183*), and the most matches as captain for India (200), to name a few. But the crowning moment of his career came in 2011, when he led India to World Cup glory after a 28-year wait.
The central government has entrusted Sat Pal Bhanoo, currently Managing Director at Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), with the financial and administrative powers of the MD & CEO position following the completion of Siddhartha Mohanty’s term last week.
Bhanoo will hold interim charge for a period of three months—from 8 June to 7 September 2025—or until a regular incumbent assumes office, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Bhanoo brings with him over 30 years of experience within the insurance giant. Prior to his elevation as Managing Director, he served as Zonal Manager for LIC’s Central Zone in Bhopal.
He has held several key positions, including Senior Divisional Manager for Bangalore-I and Shimla divisions; Regional Manager for Micro Insurance, Corporate Communications, and Personnel & Industrial Relations in LIC’s Northern Zone, New Delhi; and Chief (Marketing/Senior Business Associate) at the Central Office in Mumbai.
In addition to the leadership reshuffle, LIC has announced the appointment of Ramakrishnan Chander as Chief Investment Officer and Ajay Kumar Srivastava as the Appointed Actuary.
These changes mark a critical phase in LIC’s executive reorganisation as the state-owned insurer adapts to a more competitive and regulated environment.
Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corp Managing Director Sailesh C Mehta has been elected as the new chairman of the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI).
Earlier, N Suresh Krishnan, Managing Director of Paradeep Phosphates Ltd, was the chairman of the fertiliser body.
With over four decades of experience in the industry, Mehta also served as the Chairman of the FAI for the western region for over five years, an official statement said.
He is also the chairman and Managing Director of Mahadhan AgriTech Ltd, a subsidiary of Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (DFPCL).
Anahat Singh, India’s No. 1 women’s squash player, bagged twin honours at the PSA Awards 2024-25, winning the Women’s Challenger Player of the Season and sharing the Women’s Young Player of the Season title with Amina Orfi of Egypt.
Only 17, Anahat Singh’s consistency through the Challenger circuit made her one of the breakout stars of the 2024-25 squash season.
Her season began in August with a successful defence of her national title and a win at the HCL Squash Tour Kolkata, helping her clinch the PSA Challenger Player of the Month award.
She lifted nine titles from 11 tournaments, including eight Challenger-level wins, spread across 3k, 9k, 12k and 15k events.
Anahat also stitched together a 29-match unbeaten streak on the tour.
Anahat shared the PSA Women’s Young Player of the Season award with world junior champion Amina Orfi, who enjoyed a landmark season herself, winning the Singapore Open – her first PSA Gold-level title. Orfi also broke into the world’s top five in senior rankings.
India's extreme poverty rate declined sharply to 5.3% over a decade from 27.1% in 2011-12 even as the World Bank revised upwards its threshold poverty line to USD 3 per day.
